West Virginia's Trail of Tears----Sad reading

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Sep 12, 2003 | 10:39 AM

#11

memento

Range Rover

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 172

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West Virginia's Trail of Tears----Sad reading

Quote:

Originally posted by: Sourmash57
I wear a helmet, my kids wear a helmet. I do try to set a good example.
The only way good information will get out is if we sperad it. Invite a reporter on a ride. Call the local papers and tell them how much you your family and friends enjoy riding SAFELY.
Put your helmet on even if your the only rider in your group the wears one, it just might be contagious.
It's most likely to late to reach the grown-ups but lets keep reaching (yes not trying) the youngsters we come in contact with.
No I am not an ATVA member.
More laws won't reach people, examples will.

I think laws reach people who are borderline, but nothing works like a good example. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Be careful using the word "SAFELY" - you could apparently be labeled as a member of the self appointed fun police. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

Sep 12, 2003 | 11:04 AM

#12

RookWV

Thread Starter

Pro Rider

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 808

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West Virginia's Trail of Tears----Sad reading

Quote:

One comment, "95% of accident victims don't wear a helmet" can be misleading. In that statistic, what constitutes an accident? It implies that wearing a helmet would help 95% of accidents - especially to people who are anti-ATV. I think a more relevant statistic would be the "% of injuries/deaths that would have been avoided with the use of helmets". On the other hand, the 95% number indicates that people who are careless/reckless riders, who are the ones most likely to get into an accident, are also the group that doesn't wear them. That's a STRONG correlation!

I think they are referring to fatalities.....in 95% of fatal crashes no helmet was worn.

from the CREM website:

Current ATV Facts for West Virginia

From January 2000 to July 2003, 77 persons have died in ATV crashes. This averages out to one death every 2 1/2 weeks.

More than 95% of crash victims were not wearing a helmet.

One-third of crashes involve passengers.

About 40% of crashes occur on paved streets and roads.

24% of the deaths were among children 17 years of age and younger.

22% of crashes involve alcohol or drugs.

I don't think you can predict how many would be saved with a helmet....you can make an educated guess but there are just too many other variables involved....not all brain buckets are created equal.....If you bash face first into a tree with an open face helmet, the helmet won't do a thing for you.....see what I mean about not being able to predict? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

It's interesting that in some of the reading they are referred to as crashes whereas automobile crashes are referred to as accidents........a play on words for mental impact?